If, as Galileo said, the book of the universe is written in thelanguage of mathematics, it is also true that many new chapters in thebook of mathematics have been inspired by nature. I will explore thisconnection through several puzzles from the ordinary experiences ofeveryday life: why is it difficult to break dry spaghetti in half? Whydo things like extension cords, shoe laces, and earbuds always gettangled up in knots? How does a falling droplet splash onto the floor?In each case, careful experimentation leads to mathematical answers,generating interesting new questions in the process.